Strictly theoretical

[Dominic]

While bored at work I started day dreaming of a day when gas prices stay at an affordable level that would allow me to have a pissed off 1ton truck as a daily driver.
I got to thinking about engine swaps and fully custom applications and I am curious how it all works. So lets say, just pretending someone wanted to take a mid 80's chevy/GMC dually crew cab 2wd and have the power plant be a early 12v cummins. How does it all go down? What are the challenges. Computer managaged engines vs. old school 454 carbed v8's. A 900 lb cummins block vs a lighter big block
guages and other instruments etc.

This is just for fun cause I am sick of work......

 

[Cody]

I would put the gmc body on a 12 valve truck frame personally. Seems like that would be easier.

I think it would be cool to have a cummins panel wagon, or one of those old school suburbans from the 60's that were like 3 door and had big wide swing out rear gates.

or a cummins limo

 

[Dominic]

That would be easier, for sure on a 2wd

 

[Zombie]

I'll be right there with you, since my dream tow rig would be a CTD Dually Suburban.

An early 12 valve is still mechanically managed, so that would be less to worry about, but there are plenty of stand alone controllers out there. There are also option to use modified Alison 6 speeds behind the cummins.
I've never given much thought to 2wd springs for a CTD, but it shouldn't be hard to find the spring rate for a 2wd dodge coil, and have it replicated in a package to fit your chevy, at the ride height of your choice (or just go for bag struts out of the chute...)
You can get OEM parts for a diesel fuel fill inlet if you aren't inclined to modify, and OEM diesel tanks. Fuel pressure might be a concern, but there are plenty of Aftermarket diesel pumps out there. I adapted a 6.2 liter diesel blazer to a 431 CID Olds motor several years ago, and I was able to use all of my OEM sending units and my OEM gauge cluster, but if I had it to do again, I'd go all aftermarket on the gauges.

I'm kind of bored at work too, and this is a fun topic.

 

[Dominic]

Call me sick but I love the idea of unique tow rigs. I can't imagine a better power plant than a cummins and with all the options today for power you could make it as fast or slow as you want. Do the early 12 valves without computers have the ability to make alot more power? Seems that everything in the high performance diesel market targets computer managed rigs.

 

[Zombie]

The aftermarket support for the computer rigs is due the fact that they are the only things made these days.
My dad's 98 has a banks intake manifold, a hybrid turbo, a custom fuel plate and MBRP 4" exhaust. It makes plenty of power, and gets decent mileage too. There are intercoolers out there for it, and aftermarket injectors, but we are happy with it's performance, and really happy with it's mileage, so why change the fuel mixture?
The injection is driven off the cam, mechanically, rather than computer controlled. There are aftermarket pumps, aftermarket cams, aftermarket injectors, heads, everything that is available for the computer trucks, except the controllers.
I'd be inclined to try a twin turbo mechanically injected duramax as well... those could be pretty neat.

 

[Tacoma]

The challenges aren't really many, to be honest. Motor/tranny mounts are about it. If you're using a computer-controlled tranny, you'll need a controller.

The very early 12v don't have any computers, and are good for 20mpg and about 800ft.lbs before you start spending money.

I really REALLY want to do my swap, keep having to spend money on other stuff.

 

[Dominic]

These are ridiculous but still fun to look at. Worthless as tow rigs I am sure.

 

[Dominic]

The challenges aren't really many, to be honest. Motor/tranny mounts are about it. If you're using a computer-controlled tranny, you'll need a controller.

The very early 12v don't have any computers, and are good for 20mpg and about 800ft.lbs before you start spending money.

I really REALLY want to do my swap, keep having to spend money on other stuff.

800 ft lbs. sounds like it would break alot of ****.

 

[Tacoma]

Probably.

The one I have ready to go in is rated at 610ft.lbs/252hp at the wheel, which I think is enough. I may turn up the pump 1/4 turn, but.... I'm excited about it! It should rock hard.

 

[Zombie]

The purple one looks less than useful, but the other two aren't bad.
I've fantasized avoer building a dually burban for years... I might even shoot for a 95-96 3/4 ton burb. I had a 96 Yukon, and it was one of the most comfortable vehicles to drive I've ever had.

 

[jet_aj]

I like the idea... I dont know a lot about the older cummins mechanical injector pump, but I would assume you would have to do work to it to get the added power... However, If it was me I would opt for the newer electronic engine. I've wired many a few for our trucks (these were industrial engines thought) and it was very simple... Not saying there isnt a lot of wires to run... but most of them are for the power fuses and intake heater relays. The pedal is controlled by wire, and as far as gauges go, you could do something as simple as using a PowerView gauge which just hooks up over the can bus (3 wires, 2 wires w/ground) and will give you all you could ever want from the engine... RPM, Trouble Codes, Fuel Pressure, engine temp, oil pressure, engine hours, ect... Plus its completely programable

However it may be easier/cheaper to do as others have mentioned to put the body on an existing cummins platform. See if you can find a rolled truck and go from there.

 

[Tacoma]

I will be out the door for the complete swap, using a non-computer, '89 Cummins with a '97 47re and a 205 (still have to figure out that mating hahahha), for less than $4k.

I can reuse everything but the motor mounts.

No electronics > more electronics.

The rotary VE pump on the older engines is not as cool as the inline pumps, but they are an OLD design and very reliable.

 

[ID Bronco]

Twistedjack on Planet4x4.net put a cummins in his 1980 3+3. It is super cool. 2 wd too. Check with him.

 

[ID Bronco]

http://www.planet4x4.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8713&highlight=cummins+swap

Here is a thread where they worked on one too.

 

[phatfoto]

I'd roll with that blue truck... It needs a massive rice killer bumper to shunt little cars out of the way though...

 

[Cody]

there was a cool old grave digger style wagon dropped on a 12 valve chassis with all customer interior and paint that sold on POR a few years ago. I just tried to search and couldn't find it, but it was sexy.

 

[Cruiser]

These are ridiculous but still fun to look at. Worthless as tow rigs I am sure.

that long and heavy with a cummins would be a great tow rig, assuming its not Too tall...

 

[Dominic]

that long and heavy with a cummins would be a great tow rig, assuming its not Too tall...

Yeah but put a four car wedge goosneck in the back and try and turn with that 18 feet of truck. Plus longer truck= more weight= less power for towing.

 

[Tacoma]

18'? I think my crew cab is longer than that.